Vinyl nail kit and associated method for creating decorative and durable French nails

ABSTRACT

A vinyl French nail kit includes a brush applicator and a predetermined quantity of a nail glue for being applied by the brush applicator to a select area on a nail. The kit further includes at least one flexible vinyl strip positionable onto a nail and over the nail glue. The nail kit further includes a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent for securing at least one flexible vinyl strip to a nail. A user applies the bonding agent via the brush applicator over the nail and over at least one vinyl strip for securing same to a nail. The nail kit further includes a nail file for removing the opposed end portions of at least one vinyl strip. The nail kit further includes a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent for application by a user onto at least one vinyl strip and associated nail via the brush applicator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to artificial fingernails and, more particularly, to a French nail kit employing vinyl strips to create strong and durable nails.

2. Prior Art

It has long been common for women to color their fingernails, and/or to wear artificial fingernails having various colors. Typically, such artificial fingernails have a length that exceeds the maximum practical length of a natural nail. Artificial fingernails are generally formed of an acrylic material that is applied in a liquid or paste form, and then dried and hardened. The acrylic material may be applied, in part, over the surface of a natural nail, and/or it may be applied, in part, over a surface defined by a temporary nail form. Such nail forms, which may be made of paper or foil, are temporarily affixed to the finger, and the acrylic is applied to the form. After the acrylic has dried and hardened, the form is removed, leaving an artificial nail extension defined by the acrylic.

In recent years, the “French” nail has become very popular. A French nail is an artificial fingernail having at least two colors. In its most common form, a French nail has a pink portion located at the proximal end of the nail (i.e. the end which is closer to the finger) and a white portion located at the distal end of the nail (i.e. the end which is farther away from the finger). The combination of pink and white generally imitates the ordinary coloring of a natural nail, which has a pink portion at the proximal end and a white (or, more accurately, non-colored) portion at the distal end.

The major problem with French nails is the difficulty in making them. It is very difficult for an untrained person to paint two different colors of acrylic onto a nail, while maintaining a well-defined border between the areas of different colors. It is also very difficult to perform the above while maintaining a desired thickness of the acrylic layer. Even professional nail technicians have difficulty making French nails, and the process can be tedious and therefore expensive.

The present invention solves the problems described above, and provides a kit and method for making French nails from artistic and decorative strips of vinyl. The present invention greatly simplifies the procedure for making such nails, and enables nail technicians, or even relatively untrained persons, to form French nails easily, while still insuring that the final product has a professional appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vinyl kit for applying artificial nails. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a vinyl nail kit including a brush applicator. The brush applicator includes a handle having an end portion and a plurality of bristles connected thereto.

The nail kit further includes a predetermined quantity of nail glue that can be applied via the brush applicator to a select area on a nail. The kit further includes at least one flexible vinyl strip positionable onto a nail and over the nail glue. Vinyl is a plastic that has many advantageous properties such as resistance to corrosion, light and chemicals. Vinyl's low cost, versatility and performance make it a quick and simple way to have a French manicure with easy nails fills. Of course, vinyl can be packaged in various sized strips, which can be perforated with multiple curves and designs suitable for its application. For example, each strip of vinyl can have artistic indicia printed thereon that illustrate religious symbols, holiday events, initials and the like.

Two types of vinyl strips can be employed by the present invention, cast and calendar vinyl. Cast vinyl is typically about 2 millimeters thick and provides a smoother/glossy appearance. Alternately, calendar vinyl is typically about 3 millimeters thick and provides a more flexible and stronger product. Such flexible vinyl strips have a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced side portions extending along an arcuate path to the axis. The flexible vinyl strips further have opposed end portions disposed at an oblique angle to the axis, extending beyond a width of a nail, and foldable thereabout as desired by a user.

The vinyl nail kit further includes a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent for securing at least one flexible vinyl strip to a nail. The bonding agent includes one of a plurality of silk substance and a plurality of acrylic substance. A user applies the bonding agent via the brush applicator over the nail and over at least one vinyl strip for securing same to a nail.

The vinyl nail kit further includes a nail file for removing the opposed end portion of at least one vinyl strip when the opposed end portions thereof are folded over a nail. By utilizing a nail file, a user may remove any unwanted excess vinyl strip along the sides of a nail.

The vinyl nail kit further includes a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent for application by a user onto at least one vinyl strip and associated nail via the brush applicator. The finishing agent may be formed to be substantially transparent or substantially opaque.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the application of a nail glue to a nail via a brush applicator, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the positioning of a vinyl strip onto a nail;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing a vinyl strip being filed after same is positioned onto a nail, as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a filed vinyl strip with a finishing agent applied thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.

The kit of this invention is referred to generally in FIGS. 1-4 by the reference numeral 10 and is intended to provide a nail kit for creating artificial French nails and an associated method. It should be understood that the nail kit 10 may be used to apply many different types of adhesives and artificial nails and should not be limited to only French nails.

Referring to FIG. 1, the nail kit 10 includes a brush applicator 20 including a handle 21 having an end portion 22 and a plurality of bristles 23 connected thereto. The nail kit 10 further includes a predetermined quantity of a nail glue 30 for being applied via the brush applicator 20 to a select area on a nail. The kit 10 further includes at least one flexible vinyl strip 40 positionable onto a nail and over the nail glue 30 as best shown in FIG. 2. Such a nail glue is preferably a quick drying cosmetic glue, as well known in the industry, to save time and expedite the nail application process.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the flexible vinyl strip 40 has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis (not shown) and oppositely spaced side portions extending along an arcuate path to the axis. Such a flexible vinyl strip 40 further has opposed end portions 41,42 disposed at an oblique angle to the axis, extending beyond a width of a nail, and foldable thereabout as desired by a user.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the nail kit 10 further includes a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent 50 for securing at least one flexible vinyl strip 40 to a nail. The bonding agent 50 may include a silk substance (not shown) or an acrylic substance, as well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. A user applies the bonding agent 50 via the brush applicator 20 over the nail and over at least one vinyl strip 40 for securing same to a nail.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the nail kit 10 further includes a nail file 60 for removing the opposed end portions 41,42 of at least one vinyl strip 40 when same are folded over a nail. The nail file 60 allows a user to remove any unwanted excess vinyl strip 40 along the sides of a nail, thereby smoothing the edges of the vinyl strip 40.

Now referring to FIG. 4, the nail kit further 10 includes a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent 70 for application by a user onto at least one vinyl strip 40 and associated nail via the brush applicator 20. The finishing agent 70 may be formed to be substantially transparent or substantially opaque. The finishing agent 70 is preferably buffed by a user to create a high gloss appearance.

The nail kit 10 provides a quick and simple look of a French manicure without the time and energy consuming process of conventional methods. The nail kit 10 also eliminates the mess and fumes associated with conventional methods of filling nails and creating a French Manicure. The nail kit 10 is portable and easy to use, and can be used by persons of nearly all ages, including professional nail technicians and cosmetologists. The nails could be offered in various sizes, colors and designs.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. 

1. A vinyl nail kit comprising: a brush applicator including a handle having an end portion and including a plurality of bristles connected thereto; a predetermined quantity of a nail glue for being applied to a select area on a nail; at least one flexible vinyl strip being positionable onto a nail and over said nail glue; said at least one flexible vinyl strip having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced side portions extending along an arcuate path to the axis, said at least one vinyl strip further having opposed end portions extending beyond a width of a nail and being foldable thereabout as desired by a user; a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent for securing said at least one flexible vinyl strip to a nail, said bonding agent for being applied over said nail and over said at least one vinyl strip; a nail file for removing said opposed end portion of said at least one vinyl strip when said opposed end portions thereof are folding over a nail; and a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent for being applied onto said at least one vinyl strip and associated nail.
 2. The vinyl nail kit of claim 1, wherein said opposed end portions of said at least one vinyl strip are disposed at an oblique angle to the axis.
 3. The vinyl nail kit of claim 1, wherein said bonding agent comprises: one of a silk substance and an acrylic substance.
 4. The vinyl nail kit of claim 1, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially transparent.
 5. The vinyl nail kit of claim 1, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially opaque.
 6. A method for creating French manicure nails, said method comprises: providing a brush applicator including a handle having an end portion and including a plurality of bristles connected thereto; applying a predetermined quantity of a nail glue to a select area on a nail; positioning at least one flexible vinyl strip onto a nail and over said nail glue, said at least one flexible vinyl strip having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced side portions extending along an arcuate path to the axis, said at least one vinyl strip further having opposed end portions extending beyond a width of a nail and being foldable thereabout as desired by a user; applying a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent over said nail and over said at least one vinyl strip for securing same to a nail; filing said opposed end portion of said at least one vinyl strip when said opposed end portions thereof are folding over a nail; and applying a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent onto said at least one vinyl strip and associated nail.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said opposed end portions of said at least one vinyl strip are disposed at an oblique angle to the axis.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said bonding agent comprises: one of a silk substance and an acrylic substance.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially transparent.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially opaque.
 11. A vinyl nail kit comprising: a brush applicator including a handle having an end portion and including a plurality of bristles connected thereto; a predetermined quantity of a nail glue for being applied to a select area on a nail; at least one flexible vinyl strip being positionable onto a nail and over said nail glue; said at least one flexible vinyl strip having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and oppositely spaced side portions extending along an arcuate path to the axis, said at least one vinyl strip further having opposed end portions extending beyond a width of a nail and being foldable thereabout as desired by a user, said opposed end portions of said at least one vinyl strip being disposed at an oblique angle to the axis; a predetermined quantity of a bonding agent for securing said at least one flexible vinyl strip to a nail, said bonding agent for being applied over said nail and over said at least one vinyl strip; a nail file for removing said opposed end portion of said at least one vinyl strip when said opposed end portions thereof are folding over a nail; and a predetermined quantity of a finishing agent for being applied onto said at least one vinyl strip and associated nail.
 12. The vinyl nail kit of claim 11, wherein said bonding agent comprises: one of a silk substance and an acrylic substance.
 13. The vinyl nail kit of claim 11, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially transparent.
 14. The vinyl nail kit of claim 11, wherein said finishing agent is formed to be substantially opaque. 